What is Financial Identity Theft?

Financial identity theft is one of the biggest threats to a consumer’s financial wellness in today’s digital age.¹ It occurs when someone steals their personal and financial information, such as their name, address, Social Security Number (SSN), credit card, or bank account numbers, and uses it to make unauthorized purchases or access their financial accounts without their permission. This can severely damage their credit score and financial standing, often taking significant time and effort to resolve. Financial identity theft can also harm organizations, taking a toll on bottom lines due to lost employee productivity and more severe consequences if the stolen identity exposes the organization to a data breach.

How financial identity theft happens

Financial identity theft can occur through various methods, including: 

• Skimming: Thieves use skimming devices at ATM machines or gas pumps to steal credit or debit card information. These devices can be hard to detect, making it easy for thieves to capture card details without the owner’s knowledge.

• Phishing: Scammers send emails or text messages that appear to be from a bank or other financial institution, asking for personal information. These messages often look legitimate, tricking consumers into providing sensitive data.

• Social engineering: Thieves impersonate someone in authority to trick consumers into giving them their personal or financial information. This can happen over the phone, in person, or through digital communication.

• Data breaches: Hackers gain access to large databases of personal and financial information through breaches at companies or organizations. This stolen data can then be sold or used to commit identity theft. 

• Stealing mail: Thieves steal mail from mailboxes or trash cans to obtain personal financial information. This can include bank statements, credit card offers, and other documents containing sensitive data.

• Account takeover: Thieves use stolen personal information to access existing financial accounts. They can change account details, make unauthorized transactions, and even open new accounts, causing significant financial damage. 

Protecting consumers from financial identity theft

Organizations play a crucial role in protecting their consumers from financial identity theft. A few strategies that organizations and financial institutions can implement to protect their customers include:

1. Implement strong authentication methods: Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security. This requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to their accounts, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. 

2. Educate consumers: Offer services to educate consumers about the risks of identity theft and provide tips on protecting their personal information. This includes advising them to use strong, unique passwords and to be cautious of phishing scams.  

3. Monitor for suspicious activity: Use advanced monitoring systems to detect unusual activity in consumer accounts. This can help identify potential fraud early, ensuring that any threats are addressed before they cause significant harm. 

4. Provide identity theft protection services: Offer services that monitor consumers’ credit reports and alert them to suspicious activity. These services provide continuous oversight, helping consumers stay informed and protected against potential identity theft. 

Why prioritizing financial wellness matters

Investing in your customers’ financial wellness not only benefits them but also brings significant advantages to your organization. Some key benefits of helping your customers improve their financial wellness include:

• Increased customer loyalty: Investing in your customers’ financial wellness builds trust and strengthens your relationship, leading to higher customer retention and loyalty. 

• Reduced customer delinquency: Educating your customers on financial management can lead to fewer missed payments and defaults, reducing your risk and improving overall financial stability.

• Higher customer engagement: Providing financial wellness resources and tools encourages your customers to engage more frequently with your organization, fostering a deeper connection.

• Competitive advantage: Offering financial wellness programs can differentiate you from your competitors, making you more attractive to potential customers who value financial education and support. 

• Positive social impact: By helping your customers improve their financial health, you contribute to the overall economic well-being of the community, creating a positive social impact.

• Reduced risk of data breach: Compromised employee credentials are one of the most common gateways for data breaches. By educating consumers on protecting their financial well-being, you also protect your organization from data breach threats.  

Experian Partner Solutions: Protecting your customers

We offer a range of tools to help you support your customers on their financial wellness journey and defend against bad actors. With our partnership, you can offer your customers access to: 

• Credit and identity monitoring and alerts: Keep consumers engaged with reliable credit tools that monitor their credit reports and personal information to alert them of potential threats, such as dark web exposure or suspicious activity. Our advanced monitoring systems provide real-time alerts, helping your consumers take immediate action to protect their financial health. 

• Identity restoration: Provide peace of mind by helping your consumers reclaim their identity if they fall victim to identity theft. Our dedicated identity restoration specialists guide consumers through recovery, ensuring they regain control of their financial identity quickly and efficiently. 

• Data breach resolution: Manage consumer data breach and crisis incidents confidently, helping to mitigate the impact on affected individuals. We offer comprehensive breach response services, including notification, monitoring, and support, to help organizations handle breaches effectively and maintain consumer trust. 

• Credit education: Empower consumers with the knowledge and tools to understand and improve their credit health, building customer loyalty and supporting their journey towards better financial wellness. Our educational resources and personalized advice enable consumers to make informed financial decisions and achieve their financial goals.

Protecting against financial identity theft requires a collaborative effort between consumers and organizations. By partnering with us, you can offer comprehensive financial and identity protection solutions that engage, educate, and empower your customers to better manage their financial lives. This not only helps protect your customers, but also builds trust and loyalty, positioning your organization as a trusted advocate in financial wellness and identity protection. 

¹Identity Theft Resource Center, Consumer Aftermath Report.  
This article includes content created by an AI language model and is intended to provide general information.